Demountable metal building structure



K. H. BURGIN 2,832,445

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ON I] on DEMOUNTABLE METAL BUILDING STRUCTURE 2 wow I l I I A 3 R N 3 April 29, 1958 Filed July 26, 1954 United States Patent DEMOUNTABLE METAL BUILDING STRUCTURE Kermit H. Burgin, Sullivan, Ind. Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,545

6 Claims. (Cl. 189--2) This application is a continuation-impart of my abancloned application Serial No. 370,981, filed July 29, 1953.

The invention embodied herein is a carrying forward of the concept embodied in the above indicated applica tion for patent. The invention involves the assemblying of a plurality of like roof trusses demountably carried on corner and intermediate side posts with side wall and roof panels interengaging the roof truss elements as Well as said columns or posts.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that all of these posts are identical in shape and size,

and likewise there are a minimum number of roof and side wall elements, all permitting their assembly into the one completed building structure unit without the use of bolts, screws, rivets, or welding, whereby the building structure may be set up Without use of such elements, and likewise may be demounted without having to remove such elements. Yet, in spite of the omission of such elements, the building structure is extremely rigid, and self-supporting, and yet may be quickly set up and taken down.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the structure as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation and partial section of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in transverse section on the line 2-2 in Fig. l on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation and partial section;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a truss illustrating its method of assembly with a supporting post;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section on the line 6- 6 in Fig. 4 also on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse section through an inter mediate side and end wall located post;

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of a side wall panel to post engaging member;

Fig. 9 is a view in bottom plan of a roof panel;

Fig. 10 is a view in inside elevation of a wall panel;

Fig. 11 is a view in end elevation of the side wall panel; and

Fig. 12 is a detail in transverse section on the line iii-12 in Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

A fundamental structural form of special shape is employed in the side posts and end post generally designated by the numeral 15, and also as chord members 16 and 17 in the various trusses generally designated by the numeral 18, Fig. 4. ln the present showing, this structural member is an aluminum alloy extrusion wherein there is a generally rectangular, box-like body 19, Fig. 5, having a planar side 20 from which extends two planar legs 21and 22 from opposite edges of thatside 29. Tie legs 21 and 22 are parallel one with the other, and from 'ice their outer ends removed from the side 20, there are extended respectively the opposing short legs 23 and 24 which terminate in spaced relation one from the other. From the spaced end portions of these short legs 23 and 24, there are inwardly extending leg portions 25 and 26 respectively parallel to and spaced from the legs 21and 22. These legs 25 and 26 extend inwardly from the legs 23 and 24 a distance preferably not exceeding half the distance of spacing of the legs 23, 24 from the side 20. From the inner ends of these legs 25 and 26, there are side turned portions 27 and 28 respectively directed toward the legs 21 and 22, and from the end portions thereof, are extended the short terminal fingers 29 and 30 respectively, each spaced inwardly from the respective legs 23 and 24 a distance at least exceeding the thickness of the various members thus far described, this thickness being uniform throughout all of the members. From the outside face of the side 20, there extends a rib 31 centrally disposed therealong.

In order to show the proportions of the various members entering into this structural form, the following relative dimensions are given, not limiting the structural form to that size, but only, as indicated, to show the overall general proportions. The legs 21 and 22 may be an inch and a half overall on their outer sides; the side 20, two inches overall outside; the rib 31 one inch in extension from the face of the side 20; the legs 23 and 24 each three quarter inches; the spacing between the legs 25 and 26, seven sixteenths inches; the spacing of the members 27 and 28 from the inside of the side 20, thirteen sixteenths inches; and the spacings of the terminal ends of the members 29 and 30 from the inside faces of the legs 23 and 24, five sixteenths inches; the spacing of the members 29 and 30 from the inner faces of the legs 21 and 22 being substantially five sixteenths inches. The entire structure is extruded preferably in an integral manner.

Referring to Figure 4, illustrating the truss 18, two of these structural members 16 and 17 are employed as the upper chords 16 and 17 as above indicated. These members 16 and 17 are turned to have their open portion 33 directed upwardly. The truss is completed with the lower tension member 34 which may be an angle iron; and the various posts 35, 36, and 37 with the diagonally disposed members 38 and 39 all interconnected such as by welds. In the truss, the rib 31 is turned downwardly and the various post and brace members are intercom nected therewith.

Each of the trusses 18 has the downwardly directed stub channel irons 40 and 41 welded thereto, these channels being turned to have their legs directed inwardly one channel iron toward the other, and the out: sides of these channels 40 and 41 determine approximately the overall width of the structure to be erected. The channels 40. and 41 extend at right angles downwardly from near the end portions of this stringer 34.

The posts 15 are set up along a foundation member 42, spaced apart one from the other a distance to accommodate panels generally designated by the numeral 43, the building being made as long as may be desired out of a multiple number of these panels 43, herein shown, Fig. 1 as being of that length taking three panels 43 only. Each of these posts is interengaged in a telescoping manner over a channel iron 44 fixed to the foundae tion member 42 in any suitable way, herein shown as being secured to a base plate 45 bolted down to the foundation 42. The channels 40, 41, and 44 in each instance are made of that shape and proportion wherein they will fit within the post 15 as indicated in Fig. 5. This view, Fig. 6, is made in regard to the channel iron 44, but the same fit is employed not only with the base channels 44 but also with the truss carried channels 40 and 41. As indicated in Fig. 5, the upper channel 40 is shown interengaged within the post 15. In Fig. 5,

the channel iron abuts by its web 46 the inside face of the post side 20, and extends by the channel legs 47 and 48 respectively along the inner sides of the legs'21 and 22 to have the edges of those channel legs 47 and 48 come into sliding abutment with the insides of the legs 23 and 24. The channels 40, 41, and 44 are telescoped within the post 15 in each instance with a close sliding fit so that there will be no side wobble. In each instance, the posts 15 are set up along the foundation 42 and then the trusses 18 are interengaged therewith by dropping the channels 40 and 41 down into the upper ends of those posts, extending the trusses 18 of course transversely across the width of the building. In all instances, the rib 31 is turned inwardly.

Each of the side wall panels 43 is made in accordance with the construction illustrated in Figs. 7, l and 11. A sheet of the selected material such as an aluminum alloy is formed to have edge flanges 49 and 50 turned in equal distance one in respect to the other from the panel along its vertical edges. The length of these flanges 49 and 50 is made to be less than the inside dimensions of the legs 21 and 22 of the structural members 15. Along the sheet 43, spaced between the flanges 49 and 50, there is fixed a plurality of cross bars or beads 51, herein shown as two in number. While it is possible to form these members 51 directly out of the sheet 43, preferably, for

exterior appearance, the members 51 are separate from the panel 43 and are attached thereto such as by welding,

these members 51 being generally channel-shaped. The

overall length of the member 43 is made to be that of the desired height of the side wall in each instance of the building structure.

The panels 43 are applied to the posts by setting the 0 panels 43 on end and introducing the flanges 49 and 50 respectively through the gap 33 of the post as best illus trated in Fig. 7. The sheets 43 are then secured in those positions by means of latch members 52. There is a latch member 52 rockably secured to each end portion of the members 51, Fig. 10. The bracket 52 may be attached tothose members ,51 in any suitable manner, such as by a rivet 53in each instance. Each bracket 52 is mounted on the inside face of the member 51 by a foot 54 bearing there-against and through which the rivet 53 passes. From the foot 54 there extends an arm 55 outwardly to lie in close proximity along the leg 21 or 22 of the member as the case may be, and then there is the engaging member 56 turned over onto the side of the member I 15. Preferably this member 56 is given an incline as indicated in Fig. 8, so that there is a cam action as the member 52 may be revolved around the axis of the rivet 53 to bring the member 56 into compressive engagement with the side 20 so as to bring the panel 43 in each instance snugly up against the legs 23 and 24 respectively. The flanges 49 and 50 lie snugly along the legs and 26. While these'legs 25 and 26 are purposely spaced apart a distance exceeding the combined thicknesses of the, flanges 49 and 50, and a gap 58 is left therebetween, Fig. 7, this gap 58 may be covered over by any suitable type of molding (not shown) frictionally inserted within that gap 58 or attached thereto in any suitable manner, that is interengaging with the flanges 49 and within the gap. No harm is done in leaving the gap 58 exposed.

End panels 59 have the same shape as the panels 43 with the exception that from the edge of the flange 50 for example, Fig. 2, there is a leg 60 turned over into parallelrelation with the body of the panel 59. The panel 59 is interconnected with the post 15 by inserting the leg 60 into the post spacing 33 to have that leg 60 parallel to the flange 49. The intermediate spacing between adjacent posts 15 may be filled with the side wall panel 43, Fig. 3. No mention has been made of openings for windows and doors, since these may be located selectively by locating them between adjacent posts 15 and cutting the side or end panels 43 and 59 accordingly.

The roof of the structure is formed by employing a plurality of panels 62, Fig. 9, to overlie adjacent chordal members 16 and 17 of the trusses 18 and to interengage with those chordal members.

Each of these roof panels or sheets 62 has flanges 63 and 64 turned downwardly from a common face to be at right angles to that face. The depth of these flanges 63 and 64 is made to be substantially equal to the length of the legs 25 and 26 of the structural member 15. From the outer edge portions of these flanges 63 and 64, the metal is continued through a right angle length 65 and 66 respectively, Fig. 12, a distance equal substantially to the length of the portions 27 and 28 of the structural member 15. Then from the ends of those flange portions 65 and 66, there is turned respectively therefrom the short legs 67 and 68. The panel 62 in each instance is brought up to have these flanges 63 and 64 entered through the opening 33 of the chordal member 16 of one truss 18 and the next adjacent chordal member 16 of the second truss 18 to have the portions 65 and 67 engaging around the structural member portion 27 and 29 on the one hand and 28 and 30 on the other hand so that there is an interengagement preventing panel 62 in each instance from being lifted upwardly from the chordal member 16. The same method of assembling the roof on the other side of the truss 18 between chordal member 17 is followed. The panels of course as have been indicated have to be started up the chordal member 16 from the outer lower ends. The panels 62 are pushed on upwardly along those members until the lower edge portion which consists of a downturned flange 70 comes into abutment with the ends of the chordal member 16. Each of the panels 62 has an upwardly turned flange 71 along its relatively top transverse edge, Fig. 3.

As indicated in Fig. 3, a split tubular member 73 overlaps the flanges 71, that is the flange of the panel 62 on one side and the flange of the panel 62 on the other side as indicated in Fig. 3, whereby the panels 62 are thus held in position to prevent their slipping back down the chordal members 16 and 17 respectively which might occur in some instances under expansion and contraction particularly of the panel 62 as exposed to the weather. The tubular member 73 is in the nature of a coping and extends throughout the entire length of the comb of the roof. No other means is employed to retain the panels 62 on the trusses 18 nor to retain them in position against slipping along the members 16 and 17.

Thus it is to be seen that my invention provides an exceedingly simplified construction, yet a construction which is self-bracing, particularly through the use of the various interlocking members as have been described. The structural form 15 is extremely rigid and yet quite light in weight, the thickness of the metal throughout the various portions thereof being substantially one-sixteenth inches. By reason of the use of such lightweight elements, the entire structure before erecting may be hauled about occupying the minimum amount of space as well as having a very low over-all weight. This is particularly desirable where the structure is to be set up and left standing for a short interval of time and then requires to be moved on to some new location. On the other hand, the structure lends itself equally as well to a permanently located building.

Obviously, the trusses 18 alone without the posts 15 may be employed to provide the roof framing on a masonry wall building, such as one built of concrete blocks, wherein the trusses may omit the stub posts 40 and 41, if desired, and the end portions of the truss in each instance be bolted to the wall or otherwise fixed thereto, the exact inter-securing means being within the skill and practice of those versed in the building art. Then the roof panels 62 may he slid up the trusses as above described to form the roof and tie together the trusses.

Therefore while I have shown and described my invention in the one precise form, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a building construction, a hollow frame member permanently remaining cross-sectionally rectangular in shape having a longitudinal slot centrally through one side and opening to the interior of the member; a planar leg extending inwardly, normally of said side from each of the marginal edges of the slot, said legs having inner terminal longitudinal edges spaced from the side of said member opposite said slot side; a pair of enclosing panels positioned approximately edge to edge and lapping over said members slot side; a planar flange along each of said panel edges extending normally from said panels and entering said slot and lying respectively along each of said members legs; said flanges terminating free of contact with the sides of said frame member opposing sides of said legs; and latch means shiftably attached to each of said panels externally abutting said member on opposite faces thereof which are normal to said slot side, Said latch means slidably engaging over said frame member side opposite the slot side.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a rectangular U-shaped support member slidably entered through an end of and extending a distance within said frame member, said support member having a pair of legs interconnected by a web; said web abutting substantially the entire interior width of side of said frame member opposite its slot side, and said support member legs receiving said frame member legs therebetween and extending substantially across the entire interior widths of said frame member opposite sides which are normal to the slot side and freely receiving said flanges therebetween.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said panel flanges oppositely extend within said frame member normally one from the other across said leg terminal edges and thence extend normally toward said slot side.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said frame memher legs each extends normally one from the other from said longitudinal edges closely within said extensions of said flanges retaining said flanges in contact with said frame member legs and said slot side.

5. In a building construction, a one piece, hollow four sided, permanently rectangular frame member have opposite front and back walls with intervening opposite side walls; said front Wall having a slot therethrough extendin-g centrally, longitudinally throughout the length of that wall, the slot being defined by spaced apart parallel marginal edges; a planar leg extending inwardly of said member substantially normally from each of said edges a distance approximately half way to said back wall, then extending laterally and normally by portions directed toward but short of said member side walls and then finally by terminal portions normal to the lateral portions terminating in spaced relation from said front wall; a pair of panelmembers lapping by end portions over said front wall; a flange on each of said panel members extending normally inwardly of said slot along said legs; and means rockably secured to said panels and bearing externally against said back wall retaining the panels in contact with said front wall.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which a rib extends longitudinally of and externally from said frame member side opposite said slot side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,599 Pease Nov. 1, 1898 624,857 Pease May 9, 1899 693,989 Vail Feb. 25, 1902 763,438 Souder June 28, 1904 1,356,950 Whittredge Oct. 26, 1920 1,461,538 McKenzie July 10, 1923 1,599,335 Levens Sept. 7, 1926 1,925,418 Swank Sept. 5, 1933 2,145,469 Weinland Jan. 31, 1939 2,271,584 Fellom Feb. 3, 1942 2,430,654 Voege Nov. 11, 1947 2,610,710 Shannon Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 992,163 France Oct. 15, 1951 

